Inside the Bottle written by Byron Griffin

FADE IN: INT. KITCHEN -- MORNING, a ten year old Black girl, covertly pours vodka down the kitchen sink, then quickly returns to her bowl of cereal. Realizing the red vodka label is now off center, she hops up to fix her mistake before her father, enters. Morning Daddy. Dale kisses her forehead, then grabs the carton of orange juice from the fridge. Dale reaches for the vodka. Where the hell is my vodka? Daddy you finished it last night. I aint stupid!, the matriarch enters. What are you fussing about this early? Dale slams the vodka bottle on the counter top, dashes the OJ into the sink. As he storms out, Don't forget tonight! INT. OFFICE -- AFTERNOON The analog wall clock, 4:15 Dale rubs his temple, as if to rub away an headache. A co-worker pops in, CO-WORKER I thought you left with the others CUT TO: What? CO-WORKER Happy-hour down at O'Malley's, want to share a cab?

2. Dale checks his watch. CUT TO: INT. SCHOOL AUDITORIUM -- LATER Tiffany sings "Black Butterfly", recorded by Deniece Williams in 1984. She closes her eyes. Back stage, MR. SIMS, black male, late 30's, flips a round copper medallion over and over with his thumb and index. Dale stumbles into the back of the auditorium, tripping to the floor. Why the hell it's so dark in here? Dale hear the crowd shush him. (CONT'D) Shh, your damn self. Gale scurries over to gather Dale. On stage Tiffany continues to belt out beautiful notes, unaware of Dale. Come on let's sit down. Is that my baby sanging? You're missing it, sit and be quiet. Let's dance baby. (re Tiffany) Sang Tiffany! That's my girl. In the middle of the aisle, Dale pulls Gail into a dance, trying terribly to sing along with Tiffany. The commotion in the crowd breaks Tiffany's concentration. She open her eyes to see Dale's drunken spectacle. Tiffany runs offstage. You wont ever change! She pushes Dale in the chest and he goes flying into someone's lap.

3. INT. GIRLS RESTROOM -- MOMENTS LATER Tiffany sobs inside the stall. EXT. GIRLS RESTROOM -- CONTINUOUS Mr. Sims taps on the door. Tiffany? Tiffany are you in there? He pushes the door ajar, he hears Tiffany sobbing. (CONT'D) I'm coming in. INT. GIRLS RESTROOM -- CONTINUOUS You were great. He ruined it. I practiced day and night. There will be other recitals. I'm not inviting him. Mr. Sims rolls the copper medallion through his fingers. Don't say that. Never give up hope. EXT. GIRLS RESTROOM -- CONTINUOUS Dale staggers towards the door. Tiffany! Tiffany where are you? INT. GIRLS RESTROOM -- CONTINUOUS Dale pushes the door open. He sees Tiffany legs under the stall, he charges at Mr. Sims You bastard! Dale attacks in a drunken rage, Mr. Sims manages to keep Dale at arms length. (CONT'D) You're a pedafile! Tiffany hears the commotion inside the stall.

4. Daddy stop it! Just leave. (breathless) I'm sorry, T-baby. I promise to make it up to you. You always say that. You can have a life outside the bottle. What. You dont know me, you dont know us. I know inside the bottle is where hopes, dreams, and disappointments live. Inside the bottle seems to be a safe place, where the pressure seems to dissipate, the agony of yesterday goes numb. But it's all an illusion. Inside the bottle life is blurred. You can live life outside the bottle. Mr. Sims hands Dale the copper medallion. What's is this. Dale reads the inscription. I celebrated three years of sobriety. Life inside the bottle never changed for me, it never changes for anyone. Tiffany exits the stall. Dale drops his head in shame. Please Daddy. Dale wipes his eyes. He extends a handshake to Mr. Sims. Tiffany wraps her arms around Dale's waist. FADE OUT: